Trump to Meet Netanyahu on Tuesday as 18 U.S. Troops Die in Iran War
Updated
Updated · NBC News · Jul 27
Trump to Meet Netanyahu on Tuesday as 18 U.S. Troops Die in Iran War
3 articles · Updated · NBC News · Jul 27
Summary
Tuesday’s White House meeting will center on Iran, a Lebanon peace framework and expanding the Abraham Accords, marking Trump and Netanyahu’s first face-to-face talks since their reported blowup last month.
Trump signaled friction still lingers, saying Netanyahu cannot dictate U.S. arms sales to Turkey and that they have “a little difference” on Iran, though they remain “pretty close.”
18 U.S. troop deaths in the war, including four in recent days, have intensified scrutiny of Operation Epic Fury as NBC reported thinning U.S. intercept stocks and commanders conserving defenses against some Iranian missiles and drones.
The Pentagon is seeking $67 billion in supplemental funding to boost weapons production, while the White House says Trump is giving diplomacy with Iran “some space” even as all military options remain available.
Netanyahu also plans to press regional diplomacy: he backed Trump’s demand that Saudi Arabia normalize ties with Israel before any U.S.-Saudi civil nuclear deal advances.
With military strikes failing to stop nuclear ambitions, could the ongoing conflict accidentally cement a stronger, military-dominated regime in Tehran?